Bowden wire



Feb. 1, 1938. w w LASKER 2,107,184

BOWDEN WIRE Filed Dec. 13, 1934 INVENTOR WILLLAM W.LASKER. WITNESSES S2 0L 445M: A

en f v HIS AT ORNEY Patented Feb. l, 1938 BOWDEN WIRE William W. Lasker, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Remington ration 01' Delaware Rand Inc., Buflalo. N. Y., a corpo- Appllcation December 13, 1934, Serial No. 757,251

5 Claims.

This invention relates. to Bowden wires and more particularly to a connecting device for Bowden wires whereby one wire may transmit energy or motion to a plurality of points.

One of the many uses to which a Bowden wire of this type may be put is in the connection box for business machines known as tabulators, a type of which is disclosed and described in a U. S. Patent to William W. Lasker, No. 1,245,502. In a tabulating machine of this type it is often desirable to operate or set a plurality of stop members by one member or pin in a perforated card sensing mechanism. A connection box of this type is disclosed and described in U. S. Patent to i J. R. Merkle, No. 1,884,072.

It is the principal object of this device to provide means for connecting two or moreBowden wires in such a manner that all may be'operated by one actuating means.

A further object is to provide a flexible and easily variable system of multiple translation.

A still further object is to provide a link member for connecting the Bowden wires, which simple, eilicient and easyto manufacture.

A more clear conception of the further objects, construction and operation of invention may be had from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 discloses the device as used in a multiple connection box for a tabulator.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the connecting link.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 discloses an adjustable fastening means for the Bowden wire. I

It is well known in the card-operated accounting machine art that it is often desirable to print or enter in a plurality of places in the tabulating machine, an item appearing in one column of the card. This operation is effected by the use of a multiple connection box, such as disclosed in Fig. l of the above mentioned patent to Merkle. It is proposed in this invention to use flexible connections such as the Bowden wires disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,307,683 to W. W. Lasker.

In using Bowden wires in the multiple connection or translator box of a tabulating machine, it becomes necessary to use some type of multiple connecting link, one type of which is disclosed in Fig. 1. The connecting link I I is shown connecting wire 2, located above one column of the card sensing box, with a plurality of wires 3, the operating ends or which are located in different sections of the tabulator' stop mechanism. A well known form of connection box is shown in Fig. 1 having plate l adapted to be positioned over the sensing mechanism and plates 5 adapted to be positioned under the stop basket section of a tabulator. The lower end of wire 2 is screwed I into a tapped hole in the plate 4, and the upper end is secured in the link Hi. The upper ends of the wires 3 are secured in holes formed in each of the plates 5 adapted to be positioned below the stop baskets of each computing unit of the tabulator. These ends are secured to the plates by two nuts, 6, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower ends of these wires are secured in link It.

The link member I0, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a cylindrical member ll formed as shown having a bore I2 of one diameter and a bore ll of a larger diameter. The bore l2 accommodates the shank of a piston l5 while the upper or head portion moves in the bore ll. The upper portion of the member II is internally threaded to take a cylinder l6, formed as shown, with a. plurality of bores I 1 in'which are positioned plungers l8. The lower portion of bores l I are reduced as shown to form a limit for the plungers I8. A shallow seat is cut in the top of the cylinder It to hold a circular disc l9 having a plurality of holes bored therein corresponding to the bores 11. These holes are of a diameter large enough to permit the passage of the push wire, but not the casing of the Bowden wire. A second circular plate 20 is provided having holes therein corresponding to those in plate l9 and large enough to accommodate the casing of the Bowden wire. The holes are countersunk on the under side of the plate and the casings are belled out, thereby locking them to the plate 20. Plate 20 is provided with a pair of diametrically located holes,

. which are adapted to take a pair of diametrically positioned pins 2| protruding from plate I! for positioning plate 20 with respect to plate IS. A cap 22 is provided which, when screwed on to cylinder l6, locks the plates l3 and 20 together, thereby forming a unitary structure. The push wires of Bowden wires 3 are extended into contact with plungers I8 which are formed with a conical depression for locating the ends of said wires. The casing of Bowden wire 2 is forced into the end of member I I and held locked therein by a collar 23 having a set screw 24 associated therewith. The lower end of piston i5 is counterbored to provide a depression for positioning the end of the push wire of Bowden wire 2.

When the Bowden wire 2 is operated the plunger I5 is forced upward pushing plungers l8 upward, which, in turn, cause Bowden wires 3 to be operated. It is obvious that any number of end oi the casing may be adlustably positioned in the plate I. It the upper nut is screwed on to a position near the top of the thread, and the lower nut screwed up to clamp the plate I, the length 01' the protruding end or the casing is shortened. It the operation is reversed, the protruding end will be larger. It is, therefore, obvious that this adjustment may be varied at will. Each nut t is formed with a slot 8 by means of which it may be tightened. A straddle wrench (not shown) of any well known type may be provided for this purpose.

A Bowden wire connection 01 this type is obviously useful in a great number 01' places such as in automobiles for controlling two separate and diversely located valves from one point, tor instance, the accelerator pedal. It may also be used for closing a plurality of electric switches simultaneously from one control point; In iact the invention is adaptable for use in any instance where it is desirable to control a plurality of devices Irom one point. It is also obvious that by merely inserting a spring under the plate of piston ll, a single device may be controlled from a plurali y 01' points.

While there are above described but a limited number of embodiments of the invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departure from the inventive concept above disclosed, and it is, therefore, desired that only such limitations shall be imposed on the appended claimsasarestatedthereimorrequiredbythe prior art.

WhatIclaimasnemanddeaireto seem-b! Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, a group of Bowden wires, 'a single Bowden wire, and a connecting member tor operating said group of wires by said single wire, said member comprising a casing containing a piston having a pluralityvv oi plungers operatively associated therewith.

2. In a device or the character described, a

group of Bowden wires, a single Bowden wire, and l .push wires ot'said group oi wires being associated therewith and a plate having counter-sunk holes therein ior locking the casings of said wires to said member.

4. In a device of the character described, a sleeve containing a plurality of plungers, a piston positioned in said sleeve and adapted to operate said plungers, and means for connecting a Bowden wire to each of said plungers and said piston.

5. In a device for interconnecting Bowden wires, a sleeve containing a piston, a'cylinder containing a plurality of bores therein, a plunger positioned in each 0! said bores, said cylinder being secured to said sleeve to permit operation of said plungers by said piston, and means for securing Bowden wires in operative relation with said piston and each of said plungers.

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